Truck set ablaze
An
illegal bunkering suspect at Mbak Etoi, Uyo, Uyo Local Government Area,
Akwa Ibom State, set his fuel truck ablaze to prevent security agencies
from identifying him.
The state Commandant of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Pedro Ideba, said this in Uyo on
Monday while briefing journalists on the activities of the corps.
He said the truck, which had earlier
been seized by the agency, was razed by the suspect after he mobilised
his boys to attack NSCDC officials, who had to leave the truck at the
village where it was seized.
He said, “The villagers who were hired
by the suspect damaged two of our Toyota Hilux vehicles and injured some
of our men during the operations.
“In order for them to destroy the
evidence, they came on Monday night and set the tanker that was parked
in our office in the village ablaze. But the fire was put off before it
could reach the tank compartment.
“The commandant of the unit later paid N150,000 to a crane company to tow the truck to our office that night.”
He stated that all those involved in the
burning of the truck as well as in bunkering had been arrested and
would be arraigned in court soon.
Ideba said 18 suspects were also
arrested in the last two weeks for offences ranging from illegal
bunkering to stealing of Power Holding Company of Nigeria and Nigerian
Telecommunication Limited cables in some parts of the state.
“Last week, we caught three tankers near Julius Berger yard and the suspects have all been arraigned.
“Six suspects were also arrested vandalising PHCN cables, with a motorcycle bearing PHCN stickers.
“We also arrested vandals who were vandalising NITEL cables, off Nwaniba Street in Uyo metropolis.
He said his command was battle-ready to ensure that Akwa Ibom was not safe for bunkering and other criminal activities.
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